Archaeological evaluation on land to the west of Clacton Road, Elmstead Market, Essex, CO7 7DF: November 2024

Archaeological evaluation (seven trial-trenches) carried out as specified in the project brief and WSI. An archaeological evaluation (seven trial-trenches) was carried out on land to the west of Clacton Road, Elmstead Market, Essex in, advance of the construction of a new residential development. Recent archaeological investigations surrounding the development site have revealed evidence for Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age activity that included a ring-ditch, and a substantial Roman landscape with enclosures, at least four trackways or droveways, evidence for agricultural activity and possibly a pottery kiln. The current evaluation revealed two ditches and two pits that produced pottery of early Roman and 2nd-century date showing that features associated with the wider Roman agricultural landscape do continue into the development site. Also excavated were a medieval ditch and a post-medieval to modern field boundary ditch. Undated features included eight pits, four pit/post-holes, two ditches and a tree-throw.